Iran vs Turkey
Every indicator for Iran and Turkey side by side, with the percentage gap between them. Sources are listed at the bottom of the page.
| Indicator | Iran | Turkey | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2025) (people) | 92,417,681 | 85,878,556 | +7.6% |
| GDP (nominal) (billion $) | 363 | 1,597 | −77.3% |
| GDP per capita ($) | 3,924 | 18,599 | −78.9% |
| Life expectancy (years) | 77.9 | 77.4 | — |
| Area (km²) | 1,745,150 | 785,350 | +122.2% |
| Population density (people/km²) | 53 | 109 | −51.6% |
| Median age (years) | 33.8 | 34.4 | — |
| Internet usage (%) | 85.3 | 89.8 | — |
| Unemployment rate (%) | 8.3 | 8.5 | — |
| Inflation (%) | 42.2 | 34.9 | — |
| Urban population (%) | 77.4 | 89.5 | — |
| Military expenditure (2024) (million $) | 7,892 | 24,979 | −68.4% |
| Military expenditure as a share of GDP (%) | 2.01 | 1.92 | +4.7% |
| Military expenditure as a share of government spending (%) | 12.55 | — | — |
| Military expenditure per capita ($) | 85 | 291 | −70.6% |
| Armed forces personnel (2020) (people) | 650,000 | 512,000 | +27.0% |
| Armed forces per 1,000 people (people) | 7.0 | 6.0 | +18.0% |
| Armed forces as a share of the labor force (%) | 2.35 | 1.61 | +46.0% |
The difference column shows the percentage gap of Iran relative to Turkey; a positive value favors Iran. Interpret it in context — for unemployment, a lower value is better.
At a glance
Neither side dominates: Iran is higher on 6 of 11 indicators, Turkey on 5. The widest separation is in gdp per capita (about 4.7×); they are closest on military expenditure as a share of gdp.
Key differences
- Turkey's gdp per capita (18,599) is about 4.7 times Iran's (3,924).
- Turkey's gdp (nominal) (1,597) is about 4.4 times Iran's (363).
- Turkey's military expenditure per capita (291) is about 3.4 times Iran's (85).
- Turkey's military expenditure (2024) (24,979) is about 3.2 times Iran's (7,892).
- Iran's area (1,745,150) is about 2.2 times Turkey's (785,350).
Frequently asked questions
Where do Iran and Turkey differ most?
In gdp per capita. Turkey records 18,599 against Iran's 3,924 — a ratio of roughly 4.7 to one.
Where are Iran and Turkey most alike?
In military expenditure as a share of gdp, at 2.01 and 1.92 — a gap of only %4.7.
On how many indicators is Iran ahead of Turkey?
Iran is higher on 6 of the 11 ratio-scale indicators and Turkey on 5. A higher number is not automatically better, though — population density, for instance, is a characteristic rather than an advantage.
IranTurkey
The indicators use different scales, so the chart is a rough visual comparison only; use the table for exact figures.
Related comparisons
Other comparisons involving Iran or Turkey.
Iran profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Turkey profile →
All statistics, series, and details.
Data sourcesUN World Population Prospects, IMF, World Bank, SIPRI